Latch.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 190 3.

H. W. BOWMAN.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

HENRY XV. BOWMAN, OF BARBOURSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,995, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed June 20, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY \V. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barboursville, in the county of Knox and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Latches, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to latches; and the object of the same is to construct a simple and efficient latch for horizontally-swim gin g gates.

My invention consists-of certain novel features of construction fully described in this specification and more specifically pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective of a gate equipped with my improved latch. Fig. 2 is a detail of the latch member. Fig. 3 is a detail of the same unlocked. Fig. 4 is a detail of the slotted arm. Fig. 5 is a detail of the notched latch member.

Like numerals of reference designate like parts in the different views of the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates a gate pivoted to a vertical post 2. A rigid arm 3 is carried by the free side of the gate and has a guideslot 4 formed therein to accommodate a resilient latch-lever 5, rigidly secured at its lower end to the gate 1 and bent at 6 and 7 to adapt it to normally bear against the outer end 8 of the guide-slot 4. A U-shaped catch member 9 is set horizontally and pivoted to the arm 3 just beyond the end S of the slot 1 on a pintle 10 passing through an aperture in the bow 11 of the U. A square notch 12 isformed in the center of the convex side of the how 11 and is normally engaged by the spring latch-lever 5. A standard 13 is footed on a sill 14 and located in position to be embraced by the arms 15 of the catch member 9. The inner corners of the outer ends of the arms 15 are cut away to form inclined faces 16 to increase the angle of the arms 15. When the gate 1 is closed, the arms 15 embrace the standard 13, and the latch-lever 5 engages the notch 12 and holds the U member 9 against all pivotal movement, and there: by securely locks the gate. To unlock the gate, the lever 5 is grasped and pressed toward the side of the gate-frame, thereby disengaging the lever 5 from the notch 12 and Serial No. 162,426. (No model.)

releasing the catch member 9, after which the gate can be opened by pushing the lever 5 from you or drawing it toward you, thereby turning the catch member 9 on its pivot and releasing the standard 13. The lever 5 can then be released,when it will rest on the end 8 of the slot 4 or on the convex face of the how 11 at the side of the notch 12. To close the gate, it is only necessary to grasp the gate itself on the lever 5 and give it a push, when one of the arms 15 will be engaged by the standard 13, thereby rotating the catch member 9 until the lever 5 snaps into the notch 12, thereby locking the gate.

I do not wish to be limited as to details of construction, as these may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In a latch, the combination with a gate mounted to swing and carrying an arm on its in, of the resilient latch-lever attached to said gate and bearing on the end of said slot, a U-shaped catch member pivoted to said arm just beyond the end of said slot, said catch member having a notch in the convex side of the bow thereof, which notch is normally engaged by said lever, and a standard mounted at the side of the gate and normally embraced by the arms of said catch member, substantially as described.

2. In a gate-latch, the combination of the resilient latch-lever, the arm having a guideslot therein engaged by said latch-lever, the U-shaped catch member pivoted to said arm by a pin passing through an aperture located just beyond the end of said slot, and an aperture in the bow of said catch member, said catch member having a notch formed in the bow thereof which notch is located to be engaged by said latch-lever to lock said catch member against all pivotal movement, substantially as described.

3. In a gate-latch, the combination with a supporting-arm designed to be secured to the gate, of the U-shaped catch member pivoted to said arm on a pin passing through the bow of said catch member, said, bow having a notch therein located centrally thereof, of a free side, said arm having a guide-slot therelatch member normally engaging said notch to prevent all pivotal movement of said catch member, the arms of which are adapted to embrace a fixed member located adjacent to the side of the gate and thereby secure the gate against being opened, substantially as described.

4. In agate-latch, the combination with an arm designed to be carried by the free side of a gate, of the catch member comprising two arms connected by a bow-shaped crossbar having a notch therein, said catch member being pivoted to said arm by a pin passing through said bowya latch engaging said notch to secure said catch member against 15 pivotal movement, said arms being designed DGSSQS.

HENRY W. BOWMAN. Witnesses:

ALEX. O. VAUGHN, J AMES H. FAULKNER. 

